News | Entertainment
9 Nov 2025 23:17
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Never-before-heard interviews with Beatles legend John Lennon have been unearthed as a result of a cleaning spree during lockdown

    The family of late journalist Ken Zeilig were amazed to discover the tapes which contained recordings of conversations between him and the 'Imagine' songwriter - who was murdered outside The Dakota apartment building in New York City in 1980 at the age of 40


    His daughter Hannah Zeilig said: "We always knew from him that he’d hung out with John Lennon and that he’d interviewed John Lennon. But we never heard the interview. He didn’t mention he’d spent time with Yoko Ono as well, which he clearly had."

    The 12 reel-to-reel recordings comprise of three separate interviews thought to have taken place on separate occasions in 1969 and the early 1970s.

    Hannah told Global News: “My sister, who lives in LA, was clearing out her garage and she found a whole bunch of boxes. She wasn’t looking for anything in particular. She was looking to do one of those pandemic clear-outs that we all did"

    In one of the interviews, Lennon - who married Japanese artist Yoko in 1969 - admits to being "prejudiced" towards his own music when asked to name his favourite songs and goes on to discuss his creative process.

    Hannah added: “I found that absolutely extraordinary and so insightful. Like, forget all those self-help books. John Lennon, just, like, puts it really well.”

    The tapes are now up for auction under the guidance of Omega Auctions and are expected to fetch up to $50,000

    Staff at Omega Auctions were quick to share their excitement over the historic discovery.

    Paul Fairweather said: “Just reading the transcripts before we actually heard them was fascinating in itself. hen we actually heard them, it was amazing to hear John speaking because they’re such clear audio recordings that it feels that he’s actually sat in the room with you."

    The tapes will be auctioned off on September 28.

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     08 Nov: Seth Meyers has hit back at Donald Trump after the U.S. president attacked him on social media
     08 Nov: Macaulay Culkin has stepped back into his Kevin McCallister role for a new Christmas advertising campaign with a message about family and ageing
     08 Nov: Patti Smith has revealed how she discovered the man who raised her was not her biological father
     08 Nov: Sean 'Diddy' Combs has been photographed spending time with former NBA player Sebastian Telfair inside FCI Fort Dix
     08 Nov: Sir David Beckham paid tribute to his wife Victoria Beckham with his knighthood ceremony outfit
     08 Nov: Tori Spelling has formally concluded her marriage to Dean McDermott
     07 Nov: Guillermo del Toro says his long-awaited adaptation of Frankenstein feels deeply "autobiographical"
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    In spite of a second half collapse at Murrayfield, the All Blacks will head for London tomorrow with their grand slam hopes alive More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Kiwis finances are giving them a headache - much more than during the pandemic More...



     Today's News

    Politics:
    Former Children's Commissioner and National Party MP Roger McClay has died 21:57

    Accident and Emergency:
    Two crashes on the same road, including one involving a Police car responding to the first crash has forced the closure of a section of Upper Hutt's State Highway Two River Road 21:17

    Environment:
    Firefighters battle out-of-control blaze in New Zealand national park 21:07

    Living & Travel:
    A Tauranga soprano now based in Hamilton has won first prize in this years New Zealand Aria Competition held in Rotorua this weekend 18:57

    Environment:
    Severe storms are moving through Kaipara, Whangarei and the Far North during the next hour 18:37

    Motoring:
    Feelings of failure and being unseen. What it's like to be a stepmum 18:17

    Cricket:
    The Black Caps have once again held their nerve to win the third T20 international over the West Indies by nine runs in Nelson 18:07

    Rugby League:
    The Kiwi Ferns have been trounced 40-8 by the Australian Jillaroos in the women's Pacific Championships final in Sydney 17:27

    Rugby League:
    Esteemed Kiwis playmaker Kieran Foran believes the Pacific Championships could become league's pinnacle event 17:27

    Rugby League:
    Kiwis halfback Kieran Foran expects a sold-out CommBank Stadium in Parramatta to be blown away by the forward battle in today's Pacific Championship decider 16:57


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd